Carl Jenkinson played just his third Premier League game of the season as Arsenal lost against Crystal Palace at The Emirates on Sunday.
Lee Dixon has backed Carl Jenkinson to force his way into Arsenal’s starting XI on a regular basis after the defender made a rare start in Sunday’s shock defeat to Crystal Palace, speaking to Football London.
A £1 million signing from Charlton Athletic in 2011 (Independent), Jenkinson is one of the most long-serving players in The Gunners’ squad but he has made just 41 Premier League appearances for the North London giants in almost a decade.
The most recent of those came last weekend as Arsenal were stunned at the Emirates by Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace. And the right-back was far from impressive, hooked at half-time after looking out of his depth against Wilfried Zaha and co.
Despite this unconvincing display, Dixon, himself a right-back in his playing days, has backed Jenkinson to recover and give Emery a selection headache over the next few weeks and months.
“I do believe he’s got an awful lot to offer Arsenal. He’s a sponge for information. He wants to learn as much as he can and from a coach’s point of view I think he’d be a joy to work with,” Dixon said.
“He’s a hard worker. He’s quick. I think he’s got everything to be a really top player.
“Arsenal fans know they’ll always get one hundred per cent from him and because he is a such a Gooner he loves the club. I think the fans like him and he’s in a team that if they play with wing backs will be good for him – because he’s got that rangy run about him and he’s a good crosser of the ball.
“Hopefully he’ll have a run in the side.”
Hector Bellerin is out for the foreseeable future due to injury with Ainsley Maitland-Niles adapting well to a right-back role in recent weeks. And with Arsenal looking to sign Ajax flyer Noussair Mazraoui, according to Marca, Jenkinson may well be running out of time at his boyhood club.
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